I was extremely disappointed in their first two matchesagainst Italy and Brazil, both losses.Even if their opponents are top of the class,the US looked disorganized and dumbfounded.

However, yesterday's match against Egypt(who had beaten Italy earlier in the week)was one of the most organized, astute, and dynamicefforts I've ever seen a US team put together.Led by the excellent work of Landon Donovan(Who provided the heart and soul of the attack)and Oguchi Onyewu(who dominated the defense)they threw everything they had into the contest.

Hope they fare well against Spain(the current number one team in the world)!

============================================== Even a man who is pure of heart...

I was extremely disappointed in their first two matchesagainst Italy and Brazil, both losses.Even if their opponents are top of the class,the US looked disorganized and dumbfounded.

However, yesterday's match against Egypt(who had beaten Italy earlier in the week)was one of the most organized, astute, and dynamicefforts I've ever seen a US team put together.Led by the excellent work of Landon Donovan(Who provided the heart and soul of the attack)and Oguchi Onyewu(who dominated the defense)they threw everything they had into the contest.

Hope they fare well against Spain(the current number one team in the world)!

[/quote]

Well done USA for getting this far, but Spain are formidable opponents, and should USA get to the final they will face a mountain in either Brazil, who regularly produce the world's best players, or RSA who will have fanatical home support.

[quote author=Frank 47074 link=topic=28756.msg377906#msg377906 date=1245872600]Still 0 - 1 to USA, 53rd. minute.Spain are piling on the pressure.As we say in England, Howard in goal is playing out of his skin!(It means good).[/quote]

[quote author=Frank 47074 link=topic=28756.msg378161#msg378161 date=1245886514] Have you guys qualified for the World Cup 2010?[/quote]

Halfway through qualifying matches, USA is in second place behind Costa Rica.Most of the other clubs really don't have much, but Mexico is always a threat.If US play in the Confederations Cup holds true [i](which is a definite and welcome change from our last few encounters), [/i] we have a good chance at one of the top two spots.

How do England's chances look?

============================================== Even a man who is pure of heart...

To use a very non PC English idiom, England's chances of getting anywhere in RSA at the World Cup look about as slim as the chance of finding a bacon sandwich in a synagogue.We are champions at self deprecation, but our boys will play their hearts out until they go one goal down, after that depression and self doubt creep in.One fact to bear in mind is that no European country has ever won a World Cup that was staged outside of Europe.A "dark horse" to watch is France, they were very mediocre last time around, but they have more pride than England and they will be pumped to change what went wrong.You guys seem to be the ones to watch, with Brazil and Argentina as the other best bets.May the best team win.

USA 2 - Brazil 3, is the final score.I don't think any soccer fan in the UK expected USA to go as far as they did, but we have a new found respect for you now.Your guys never gave up hope, all credit to you, salud!!